Page 5 of Entangled with the Enforcer

But it is what it is.

The point is: Tristano is the enemy.

I can't believe he can't even spare Dad's property. All my life, I avoided him and rarely ever said anything to him when he showed up at our house. Now, he has screwed us over.

I pull into the driveway in front of a white two-story house. It's been years since I've been here. I take a deep breath before stepping out onto the sidewalk. All traces of my mother have been erased from the exterior.

I wonder if he removed my mother's small garden in the backyard. As a teenager, I relished sitting in her garden, reading romance novels. My parents were happy then or they pretended to be.I guess that's why Mom created a haven in the middle of our hell...until she left.

It was as if they were waiting for me to get through high school. A month after I entered college and left the city, they announced their divorce, and I haven't stepped a foot into this house since then.

I get out of my car. The fresh morning air fills my lungs, bringing back a fleeting good feeling. This is when I hate having to chastise Jeff like he's a child and not my father. But how else will we fix this situation?

I walk up the sidewalk, inspecting the unkept bushes and unmown lawn. My heart starts pounding as I knock on the door.

What will he say? Will he lie to me again? Should I just give up and move on?

The door creaks open, and Jeff stands before me, fiddling with his watch strap. The black suit he wears suggests that he's heading somewhere. That's not my problem right now. I'm amazed at how calm he looks like nothing has happened.

"Wow, sweetheart. I didn’t expect to see you today." He grins, welcoming me inside.

I never expected a greeting like this. I stand in my childhood living room, my chest tight, glaring at his wide-open arms and fake smile. My words catch in my throat. "How can you pretend life is normal?"

I set my bag on the gray couch, looking at the stairway absent-mindedly.

Damn, now I understand why I never had the slightest clue they were getting divorced. Jeff has perfected the act of pretending.

His eyes darken as he takes a step forward, the false smile slipping off his face. "You don’t think I'm happy to see you?"

"I don't know what to believe anymore," I say, honestly, at a loss for words. "I’m here because we need to do something about Tristano and the hotel. We can't just let him take it from us."

Jeff sighs heavily and runs a hand through his thinning hair. "I know, I know. I fucked up. But what can we do? He's got the power, the money, and the connections."

"The hotel is gone, I don’t have a job and it’s all your fault. But I'm not ready to give up."

"I know, I know," he repeats, his voice growing softer. "But we have to be smart about it. Tristano is dangerous. He won't hesitate to hurt us if we cross him."

"Well, I'm not afraid of him," My jaw clenched. "I'll do whatever it takes to get the hotel back. Even if it means working with...him."

Jeff looks away. Then sits on the couch, hiding his face from me. "I'm sorry. I thought Nicoli would give me more time."

"Nicoli wouldn’t have to give you more time if you stopped gambling. And stop borrowing money you know we can’t pay back."

His full brows draw together in a frown. "Look, I'm still your father. Yes, I made a mistake, but that doesn't give you the right to disrespect me."

A frustrated chuckle escapes my lips. "Are you for real? You're talking about respect when our livelihood is at stake. How could you gamble with the hotel? It’s not just yours it’s mine too. Did you ever think about what I want in this situation?"

He gets up, trying to pat my shoulder, but I evade it. "Trust me."

I walk to the stairway and lean against the railing. Staying close to Jeff annoys me. I'm no longer the kid he used to spill lies to. I can easily get another job, but the humiliation and suddenness of being out of the job isn't something I'll recover from easily.

"And to trust Tristano of all people. You know the part he played in your divorce with Mom. Now, I'm jobless because of you and him. You really have to start thinking about how your actions affect others."

How could a man be addicted to something to the point of hurting those he loves?

"My divorce has nothing to do with Tristano. Besides, do you think I haven't been trying? I just need you to trust me."

"Every time I trust you, it blows up in my face. I’m tired of always being a casualty of your schemes."

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